Top 10 Newbie Mistakes

[Nessism]

I'm definitely guilty of all the original 10 and subsequent.

Sorry

I might be on the tail end of this one, but if I could add one:

Thinking you know how an engine & electrical system works when you don't.

I am definitely guilty but glad to learn!

I apologize for my newbfulness!

Ha! You think you got it bad? How do you think I learned this stuff! If you ain't failing, you ain't trying.

It's only a "mistake" if you something wrong twice.

[pete]

Ha! You think you got it bad? How do you think I learned this stuff! If you ain't failing, you ain't trying.

It's only a "mistake" if you something wrong twice.

Well said Ed! I'm still learning...

[chrisbock]

Ha! I broke one of my float posts before I bought a proper punch. luckily the Suzuki shop near me had a whole mess load of Mikuni's in the attic. Was able to get a carb body for $18

[GSXR7ED]

Thread in my statistics...so I can reference it. #10 stuck out at me for some reason. Probably because I wanted a cash-only bike purchase and I know just enough to get acquainted with the task at hand.



Ed

[JaNewb]

Oh god I love this thread. I laugh the entire time I'm reading it... and cry at the same time. Lol I'm pretty much guilty of every single newbie mistakes except #10. I bought my GS because I knew I'd have to fix it. I did cave twice though and took it to a shop, one for a tire change and one for a valve adjustment because working on my engine scared me. silly.

[smoothbored]

my newbie mistake

sloppy clutch lever, poor contact at the interlock inductor. My first road test was today 2-20-13!

[GSXR7ED]

Number 10

Oh god I love this thread. I laugh the entire time I'm reading it... and cry at the same time. Lol I'm pretty much guilty of every single newbie mistakes except #10. I bought my GS because I knew I'd have to fix it. I did cave twice though and took it to a shop, one for a tire change and one for a valve adjustment because working on my engine scared me. silly.

REFERENCE:
10) Buying a 30 year old motorcycle because it was cheap without any mechanical knowledge and no interest in learning. Paying a shop to work on your 30 year old motorcycle is not advised unless you have lots of money to spend and know for a fact that they are trustworthy.



Looking back, I considered an older bike because I was interested in doing a rebuild. Not knowing about GSR, things looked as though I was going to rely on the "Bike Shop". Well, I'm fortunate in that I was able to get the following done without paying 2Xs what my bike was worth:


Carbs-Installed by shop
Inlet hoses-Installed by shop
Compression Test-Done by shop
Brake pedal-Installed by shop
Clutch Cable-Adjustment/cotter pin installed by shop
Front turn Indicators-($20EA)-ordered/installed by shop
1 Air Filter-($10) ordered/installed by shop
Tightened/secured air cleaner case cover-by shop
Tightened instrumentation panels (speedo/tach)-by shop
Replace 1 bolt; right side exhaust bracket and 1 screw for right side CAM cover-by shop
Tank and seat-Install by shop

All in all I spent about $1K CASH for: 1.) the Bike, 2.) Annual Insurance, and 3.) Maintenance Repair. With the 2-yr registration and DE tax, add $80. My goal was to get it roadworthy and start enjoying the bike. Since I have the bike at home now, I can do the maintenance myself utilizing BassCliff's Website.







Ed

[Bakes]

One of the most common tech calls we get is in regards to carburetion because the bike runs like pooh.

Invariably, John Q. Caller has NOT checked his ignition system to determine it's overall health. And when asked if his valves are within spec we typically get the "yup, they seem pretty good" for an answer.

I suspect I can direct them to this thread a thousand times and they'll still go chasing after carburetor ghosts.

MAKE SURE YOUR IGNITION AND VALVE TRAIN ARE HEALTHY BEFORE CHASING CARBURETOR ISSUES!!!!

So what's with the petcock and #2 cylinder plug-fouling correlation?

[Charlie G]

So what's with the petcock and #2 cylinder plug-fouling correlation?

Vacum is drawn off the #2 carb. Sometimes when the petcock takes a dump, fuel flows back into this vac port in the carb, into the cylinder and even into the crankcase.

cg

[rockhammer]

Nice thread. I picked up my bike and did a full 12 k mile service plus sealed air box and new filter but I still have a lot of work to do. Thats ok that is why I bought the bike to learn some thing and enjoy. Thanks Gs resource dudes and gals.

[BiPolarBear]

Brilliant thread -- exactly why I want to hang around this locker room, sports bar, workshop, and motorcycle monastery. Thanks, Nessism. You are a Steely-Eyed Motorcycle Man!

[WilliamGLX81]

How about believing a single word the PO tells you about the bike?

Present company excluded, of course.

Hah! Tell me about it....

Putting on your carbs and forgetting to put on the fuel line beforehand.

Add to this - Putting on your carbs and not attaching the throttle cable first (and checking if it needs replacing before starting the carb job)


Using fuel stabilizer - gummed the heck out of my carbs and my friend's carbs after sitting only two weekends.

[estcstm3]

Using fuel stabilizer - gummed the heck out of my carbs and my friend's carbs after sitting only two weekends.

Not sure I have heard that one before?? Are you talking about Sta-bil?

[UncleMike]

Not sure I have heard that one before?? Are you talking about Sta-bil?

I believe he means he's learned to use stabilizer since gumming up those carbs, not that the stabilizer caused it.

[estcstm3]

I believe he means he's learned to use stabilizer since gumming up those carbs, not that the stabilizer caused it.

doooh you are right...it was late =)